I live near YMMB Apt ( 3 nm away ) and after more than a few years commercial flying I can look out the window to the north use my mark 1 eye balls and make an assessment of the cloud cover for quite a distance ( as can any Pilot ) I can also read the METAR YMMB as well, which I did check.
Looking north was OVCT 4 to 5,000' and indeed the METAR said OVCT 4,500'
From memory this was about 1100 in the morning.
I then drove to Southland about 1130 and it was still OVCT around the area with a few gaps developing in the NE, viewed from the top open car park....
Mmmmm
I'm not sure what you were looking at ??
Edit:--- I can't seem to get history archive of the YMMB METAR however YMEN archive shows OVC040 until 1500 local.
Last edited by ACMS; 25th Feb 2017 at 08:38.